National hotel chain finds value in outsourced fixed assets solution

Efficiency, improved processes and millions in tax savings

CASE STUDY
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June 01, 2016

Background

A national hotel chain made a strategic decision to tighten their focus on key business issues by outsourcing a variety of accounting, tax and other functions, including tracking and reporting for the chain’s massive inventory of fixed assets. The company sought to improve processes and minimize costs, and knew that to do so would require additional tax process capabilities, effective project management and a greater familiarity with the details of the tax code than their current approach supported.

Goals

The hotel chain sought a seamless, outsourced fixed assets solution that would minimize demands on its staff, provide accurate monthly reviews, and deliver timely and accurate quarterly and annual reporting for federal and state tax purposes.

Our role

RSM started by working with the client to understand their current state. We conducted a detailed review of their fixed asset processes, tools and data. As with many large organizations, the client had a large volume of data and transactions, much of which was still managed manually. While the process worked, and detected errors were fixed in timely manner, the internal costs were too high.

RSM worked quickly to:

Assemble a team with proven fixed asset experience to ensure the client had sufficient resources and would be served by the same professionals throughout the year

Refine and streamline existing processes

Develop and deploy more advanced data management tools to speed up the review and analytical process

Establish clear processes and communication protocols to ensure the smooth flow of information to the client and other key parties, including their tax compliance provider

Facilitate a transparent and timely view of our work throughout the year

In addition to establishing a more efficient process going forward, the RSM team conducted a review of existing fixed assets to ensure proper categorization. This analysis found that the company had implemented numerous leasehold improvements to its headquarters, hotels and administrative offices that should have been assigned a 15-year asset depreciation stream due to a 2004 tax law change. Most of these improvements were being depreciated as building costs using the 39-year rate.

The results

As a result of these efforts, we smoothly transitioned the hotel chain’s fixed asset program to an outsourced solution. By automating key functions, we ensured a more consistent and timely approach to handling data, improving both the timeliness and accuracy of monthly asset review reporting and tax preparation. By properly categorizing leasehold improvements for 15-year depreciation, and continuing the company’s preference to forgo eligible bonus depreciation in lieu of accelerating refundable alternative minimum tax (AMT) credits, we were able to help the client realize more than $10 million in tax savings.

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